Housing FAQs

Currently we do not offer a custom design service. All our homes are fully completed (to original design Specifications and with Interior/Exterior Designer’s input) prior to being made available for sale.

Tarion is a not-for-profit consumer protection organization established by the Ontario government to administer the province’s new home warranty program. For over 40 years, Tarion has served new home buyers and new homeowners by ensuring that one of their life’s biggest investments is protected. Visit the Tarion website for more information.

We don’t currently allow lot reservations.

Please click here to learn about the home purchase process

We don’t provide any basement quotes, nor do we do any finished basements. However, we can recommend renovators that can provide this service.

Costs

• 2025 Rate = 74 cents per litre.
• Carbon Tax = 11 cents per litre.
• HST Tax = 13%.
• Delivery Fee: $10.95.
• Average Cost of Propane = 74 cents + 11 cents + 13% = 97 cents per litre + $10.95 delivery fee.
• Average Annual Propane Usage = 3000 litres (the first year for a new build is the highest cost for propane as the interior wood needs to dry).
• 3000 Litres of Propane Annually = $2910+ delivery fees. 

Average Annual Propane Usage Based On Square Footage

• 1,000 SQ.FT. = 1666+ litres annually.
• 1,500 SQ.FT. = 2536+ litres annually.
• 2,000 SQ.FT. = 3407+ litres annually.
• 3,000+ SQ.FT. = 4921+ litres annually.

Average Annual Propane Usage Per Appliance

• Furnace = 3785+ litres.
• Hot Water Heater = 946+ litres.
• Gas Fireplace = 757+ litres. 

2 above ground propane tank rentals at $5.00 per month + HST each from P38 Energy. One on demand Combi boiler tank rental from TBG Mechanical is $84.99 HST per month. Note that the hot water tank is a dual unit to service both the domestic hot water and the basement in-floor radiant system.

This depends on the Township and the value of the home but Beckwith has the lowest property taxes in Lanark County. For McEwen’s Mill in Beckwith, the property taxes vary but the property taxes for the smallest model were $4600.00 annually and the property taxes for the biggest home were $5700.00. 

Please click here for a full list of included home specifications.

Yes, all of our homes for sale are brand new and come with Tarion warranty.

As of now only Lanark County – Perth and Beckwith.

Yes, we provide the Septic report/system, Well/water quality report, Site plan for each home.

We currently only use gas fireplaces. We recommend an outdoor fire pit for enjoying a wood burning experience.

The lot sizes vary per lot. Please email info@bldhomes.ca for specific lot dimensions.

No, we do not provide central vac outlets.

Yes, we have coax cable outlet as well as an tv outlet over the fireplace set up. The wall is also TV hanging ready.

The internet speed/internet provider depends on the location of the home. In McEwen’s Mill in Beckwith, the community has Bell Fibe Internet.

Each home comes with one solar driveway lamp post.

Yes, BLD will remedy any warrantied items per the Tarion Warranty definitions and process.

BLD loves to work with realtors and offers either $10,000.00 or 1% commission to buyer realtors.

We currently only offer in-floor heating in the basement.

No, it’s not.

No other than the hood fan. We now offer a full sprinkler system and in floor heating in the basement instead of appliances but we can still provide builder discount appliance pricing for our clients.

Please email troy@bldhomes.ca to set up a showing of one of our homes.

We are responsible for the warranty of your home through Tarion, and we don’t warranty products/services that we aren’t familiar with/haven’t used before. Legal complications arise when buyers install their own items in a home in terms of warranty and liability, so we do not allow it for the benefit and safety of everyone.

The Septic System is usually in the front yard of the home.

Please reach out to troy@bldhomes.ca for more info. 

The LED pot lights are dimmable when controlled by a compatible dimmer. The dimmer must be compatible with Chloe LED pot lights.

This depends on the home, please contact info@bldhomes.ca for more information

Window sills get painted.

All of our homes come with a potable water certificate confirming there is no bacteria.

All of our homes have an Iron filter and water softener to solve any hard water concerns.

Yes. An Occupancy Permit, from the Chief Building Official, is a requirement to make the sale to the perspective buyer.

Pools are feasible however inground pools have an additional cost due to the bedrock that must be hammered out. For more information, contact the local township.

This is to control the soffit outlet (typically used for Christmas lights).

Depending on the lot, the house is built upon bedrock.

Typically an easement means that a segment of the property is allocated to a 3rd party use. This could be for a drainage ditch, utility corridor, etc. The homeowner can still make use of the easement however the 3rd Party has rights to access the easement to make repairs etc. In such cases, any belongings of the homeowner in the easement would need to be removed (e.g. fence panel, shed etc). Unmovable objects should never be placed within an easement.

Yes, this is industry standard.

They’re a professional builder if they’re registered with Tarion and the HCRA (Home Construction Regulatory Authority). They should likely also be members of the local HBA (Home Builder’s Association). To find out if the home builder is registered with Tarion, use Tarion’s Ontario Builder Directory to search for your builder and review their status. The same applies for HCRA designation.

The Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) regulates new home builders and vendors in the province. They protect the public interest through a fair, safe and informed marketplace that supports the goal of a continuously improved homebuilding industry in Ontario. The HCRA holds licensed builders to professional standards, protects the public interest, and enhances consumer confidence in the homebuilding industry in Ontario. In addition, HCRA strives to educate consumers to ensure that they can make informed decisions and understand the benefits of a regulated homebuilding sector. The HCRA is a not-for-profit corporation that is designated by the provincial government to administer and enforce the New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017 and associated regulations. The HCRA was designated by the Government of Ontario effective February 1, 2021, as the regulatory authority under the New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017. Historically, the Tarion Warranty Corporation has been the delegated administrative authority responsible for licensing home builders and vendors in Ontario. As a result of an independent review of Tarion and the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act (ONHWPA) in 2016 by Justice Cunningham, the Government of Ontario committed to creating a new regulator. Now, the regulation and licensing of new home builders and vendors in Ontario are the responsibility of the HCRA. All matters related to homeowner warranty protection remain the responsibility of Tarion. The HCRA is committed to enhancing the professionalism of the new home building industry in Ontario by increasing consumer protection. The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services continues to be responsible for the New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017 and associated regulations, as well as general oversight of the HCRA.

You should work with an HBA member because you’ll be confident that you’re working with a professional within the community. Being a member of the local HBA is a way for businesses to show their commitment to high-quality standards, accountability, and integrity. All HBA members are responsible for upholding a rigorous code of ethics when working with homeowners, contractors, and other businesses.

A building permit is a formal permission from the municipality to begin construction, demolition, addition, or renovation on your property. Your plans must comply with the Ontario Building Code, local Zoning By-laws, and other applicable regulations. You need a building permit when constructing a new building or putting on an addition; making structural alterations; changing a building’s use; building a garage, balcony, or deck; installing or modifying heating, plumbing, or air-conditioning systems, etc.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning the essential systems in your home.

The Mailbox at McEwen’s Mill is located between homes 302 and 308.

Garbage gets picked up from your home in McEwen’s Mill and is included in your property taxes in Beckwith.

During a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI), only the purchasers named on the Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS) should attend, or their designated representative as well as the Foreman.

The PDI will take about 1-2 hours to review the Tarion Home Warranty and the features of your new home.

At or before the PDI, you will be given a Certificate of Completion and Possession (CCP). This document states your home’s enrolment number with Tarion and the occupancy date, which is also the start date of your home’s statutory warranty.

Your keys will be available inside your home as indicated by BLD Homes. The garage code will also be provided for access to the home on closing day. We recommend not scheduling any delivery appointments on closing day as possession times for closings vary with most closings happening in the afternoon.

It depends. If the firm (no conditions) offer has been accepted by the seller and is not a special circumstance where you may be allowed a cooling-off period, you can try to negotiate changes with the sellers. If the offer is not conditional, the law is on the seller’s side.

Depending upon the time between your PDI date and your closing date, repairs may still be in progress. A BLD Homes representative will contact you to set up appointments to complete the outstanding items. If parts need to be ordered, they may take several weeks to arrive. Follow up repairs will be added to your 30-Day Form.

Salt, combined with freeze/thaw cycles that occur during winter, may cause serious erosion to concrete surfaces. Most often the front edge of the garage floor is affected. It is important to keep these areas clean, and to apply a suitable sealer on a yearly basis to deter salt damage.

As the concrete cures and hardens, it shrinks and may crack. Settlement and changes in temperature also contribute to cracking. Generally, cracks do not indicate a defect and do not require repair. Floor slabs are not a structural component of your home. Refer to the Tarion Home Warranty website for tolerances.

If warm, moist air inside the house meets the window glazing on a cold day, moisture may condense on the windowpane at the edges of the glass near the frame. On very cold days, the condensation may freeze, forming ice. Please ensure that moist air in your home is removed at its source by running the HRV on medium/high to lower humidity levels on cold days. Controlling the humidity of your home is essential to keep the air safe and clean.

Survey markings may no longer be visible after the lot is graded and landscaped. Please do not use wooden stakes as evidence of lot lines. We strongly suggest hiring a surveyor to accurately mark out your lot lines if you’re building items such as a fence.

We provide the lot graded to the approved grading plan at closing. We also provide a walkway featuring stone interlock pavers and the graded areas to have topsoil and hydroseeding. These features can only be undertaken in the Spring to Fall timeframe.

You can install a fence after you’ve been living in your home for over 1 year. The reason for the delay is that the overall grading needs time to settle.

It is recommended to wait at least 6-12 months before opting to have your driveway paved by a third-party service.

A new home is built with new materials and is subject to drying and settlement in its first year. The result can be, among other things, that baseboard and door trim can separate from the walls or ceilings, which looks like a thin crack. This is normal and is to be expected in new homes. At the 30-day inspection and again at the year-end inspection, we’ll do a caulk and patch of trim that has separated, as well as drywall cracks and nail pops in all places necessary.

During the first year of occupancy your house will dry and settle. Sometimes a door will become hard to open as the frame settles. This is covered by the Tarion one-year warranty and will be repaired by us at the 30-day or year-end inspection.

You may not be familiar with the new outlets that are now required in all new homes. The new plugs have a safety feature, where a spring-loaded shutter slides behind the holes when nothing is plugged in, thus stopping children from being able to insert thin objects into the outlet. This does make it a little harder to plug in electronics.

If you’re move from an older home, you may not be used to the lower volume toilets now being installed in all new homes. Flush and hold for a few seconds for heavy use, flush and release fast for lighter use. For any serious issues, please contact BLD Homes or our plumbing partner TBG Mechanical.

Yes, this happens. You’re also likely to see them where there are screw patches. This is due to modern drywall materials and installation. The Tarion guideline standard is that the walls have a normal uniform finish in normal lighting, standing six feet away. More information can be found in section 9 of the Tarion Construction Performance Guidelines.

Keep your intake & exhaust pipes (white PVC on side or rear of home) clear of snow & ice. If the pipes are covered by snow, ice, or other debris, it will shut down the furnace and hot water system. This is the responsibility of the homeowner. A service fee will be charged if a service request is placed as a result of failure to clear any debris from the pipes. Low propane levels can also cause low gas pressure resulting in equipment shutting off.

To turn on the fireplace, use the handheld remote with the I and O symbol. I for on and O for off. Note that sufficiently charged batteries are required in both the remote and in the receiver, unit located at the bottom enclosure of the fireplace. If the pilot light is not on in the fireplace, it means the batteries in the fireplace need to be changed.

During a viewing you may observe some green tape in select spots. These are to mark the sections that will be touched up under Tarion prior to the PDI and/or move in.

Be sure to keep track of the following payments: Propane (heating) and propane tank rental costs, hydro (electricity), property taxes and waste collection, hot water tank rental, mortgage, home insurance, internet and TV and home and appliance maintenance costs.